News
Lanka’s new ambassador to Russia assumes duties

Prof. M.D. Lamawansa presenting the copy of his credentials to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Russia Igor V. Morgulov
Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Russia, Prof. M.D. Lamawansa, having conveyed the greetings and best wishes of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to President Vladimir Putin and people of the Russian Federation, highlighted the existing friendly ties between the two countries that have been built over the decades based on mutual respect and without any strings attached
The Foreign Ministry issued the following statement on our new ambassador to Moscow assuming duties there: “On August 06, 2020, the Ambassador-Designate of Sri Lanka to Russia, Prof. M.D. Lamawansa presented the copy of his credentials to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Russia Igor V. Morgulov and officially assumed duties as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation. The discussion with the Deputy Foreign Minister which followed handing over credential papers was productive.
“Upon the completion of the official visit to the Russian MFA Ambassador M.D. Lamawansa received at his official residence high officials of Russian Ministry of Defence, MFA, Federal Services for Military Technical Cooperation, Rosoboronexport, Federal Services for Fisheries, Russia-Sri Lanka Friendship Society, Sri-Lankan community, social, trade, media and academia circles.
“Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Lamawansa conveyed the greetings and best wishes of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to President Vladimir Putin and people of the Russian Federation. He highlighted that existing friendly ties between Russia and Sri Lanka have been built over the decades based on mutual respect and without any strings attached. The Ambassador spoke about the necessity to engage with Russia’s regional cities and emphasized the importance of strengthening of dialogue in the spheres of common interest for cooperation including Energy, Trade, Tea, Tourism, Education, Science, Technology, Culture and Agriculture. Ambassador Lamawansa assured that projects and programs initiated by his predecessors would continue with, perhaps some adjustment to suite the present time.
The Chief Guest, Deputy Director of second Department of Asia, Alexey Dedov in his speech stressed that “relations between the two countries have always been based on the principles of equality and trust, characterized by the absence of contradictions, an atmosphere of goodwill and mutual respect”.
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Business
President invites exporters to rise again from the economic setback

President Anura Kumar Disanayake invited Sri Lankan exporters to rebuild and thrive on a robust economic foundation.
The President emphasized that our country faces the challenge of capturing market share from a position of relative weakness. He pointed out that, to overcome this, external support had to be sought. In this regard, he highlighted that the government is prepared to provide assistance for recovery based on the current economic stability.
President Anura Kumar Disanayake made these remarks at the 26th Presidential Export Awards Ceremony.
The 26th Presidential Export Awards, organized by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), was held on Friday (07) at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) under the patronage of President Anura Kumar Disanayake.
The main objective of the awards ceremony is to recognize exporters who have made significant contributions to the economic development of Sri Lanka.
The Presidential Export Award, presented by the President, is the highest honour for Sri Lankan exporters who have made significant contributions to the export sector and economic development.
The Presidential Export Awards program, initiated by the EDB in 1981, has been held annually to recognize Sri Lanka’s top exporters. The awards ceremony for the 2023/24 financial year took place this year.
A total of 14 major awards and 51 awards in the categories of production and services were presented, with recipients gaining the opportunity to use the Presidential Export Award logo as a marketing tool for three years.
President Anura Kumar Disanayake further emphasized the critical importance of the trust placed in Sri Lanka by international economic stakeholders to stabilize the country’s economy. He noted that the global market economy is interconnected, not entirely independent.
He further pointed out that the primary challenge facing Sri Lanka is securing a substantial share of the market amidst the current global division of markets and the ongoing competition to reclaim market shares.
President Anura Kumar Disanayake noted that the global market has become an interconnected network. He emphasized that in order for the country to become a key participant in this market, it must engage in trade agreements that are beneficial to Sri Lanka. He cautioned that aggressive, reckless approaches to market penetration would not be successful, stressing the need for strategic, thoughtful engagement.
The President further stated that the government is already taking steps to provide the necessary technical support for Sri Lankan exporters to enter the market with high-quality products. He highlighted the government’s focus on supplying new goods and services in response to global changes, in line with international market trends.
Regarding the reduction of electricity bills, the President mentioned that the government is prioritizing renewable energy sources to maintain long-term stability in energy costs. He added that efforts are underway to lower costs and ensure stable pricing over the next few years.
President Disanayake also emphasized that the government is committed to playing a pivotal role in advancing the nation’s economy to new heights. He noted that even small or misguided decisions can have significant negative impacts on the economy, and therefore, decisions regarding the economy must be made with great caution and foresight.
In his remarks, the President assured that the government is fully committed to fulfilling exporters’ requests, which are vital to strengthening the nation’s economy and maintaining a strong economic foundation.
Finally, the President invited Sri Lankan exporters to unite in strengthening the economy, stressing the importance of collaboration and mutual understanding to navigate the challenges of economic recovery and growth effectively.
The ceremony was attended by several distinguished individuals, including Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody, Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Thilaka Jayasundara, Chairman and Chief Executive of the Export Development Board of Sri Lanka Mangala Wijesinghe, Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Duminda Hulangamuwa, along with various Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Parliamentarians, foreign diplomats, Secretaries to the Ministries, and members of the EDB.
[PMD]
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